What is Whiplash?

Although car accidents account for most cases of whiplash, there are some other common causes, including:
- Sports injuries
- Physical abuse or assault
- Falls
- Bungee jumping
- Amusement park rides
Seeking treatment as soon as possible after an accident or injury is important. Because symptoms of whiplash can take time to develop, it is easy to think that you are not as injured as you really are. People often don’t seek treatment because they don’t feel hurt, but by the time more serious complications develop, some of the damage from the injury may have become permanent.
How Does Whiplash Affect Balance and Dizziness?

Vestibular Rehabilitation

Vestibular rehabilitation is a physical therapy program used for the treatment of patients with vestibular disorders. It takes advantage of the neuroplasticity of the central nervous system to retrain the brain to adapt to information from the senses to determine correct orientation and balance.
Using special eye, body and head exercises, it helps the brain recognize and coordinate sensory signals, and desensitize the system to movements that provoke symptoms. The benefits of vestibular rehabilitation have been demonstrated to reduce symptoms, restore function and improve the quality of life.
Brain Hub in Sydney, led by Dr Carlo Rinaudo (Chiropractor and PhD candidate), is a leading vestibular rehabilitation and brain-based therapy clinic. It helps patients suffering from dizziness and poor balance disorders including Concussion, Whiplash, BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), mTBI (mild traumatic brain injury), Migraines and ABI (acquired brain injury).
The use of Vestibular Therapy (along with spinal joint therapies) for the management of whiplash and related symptoms (including poor balance, dizziness, neck pain, and poor eye movements) has been shown to be effective. Please see the references below
how Dr Rinaudo can help you
- Tjernström F, Zur O, Jahn K. Current concepts and future approaches to vestibular rehabilitation. J Neurol. 2016 Apr;263 Suppl 1:S65-70.
- Hain TC. Cervicogenic causes of vertigo. Curr Opin Neurol. 2015 Feb;28(1):69-73.
- Hansson EE, Persson L, Malmström EM. Influence of vestibular rehabilitation on neck pain and cervical range of motion among patients with whiplash-associated disorder: a randomized controlled trial. J Rehabil Med. 2013 Sep;45(9):906-10.
Geiger G, Aliyev RM. [Whiplash injury as a function of the accident mechanism. Neuro-otological differential diagnostic findings]. Unfallchirurg. 2012 Jul;115(7):629-34. - Treleaven J. Dizziness, unsteadiness, visual disturbances, and postural control: implications for the transition to chronic symptoms after a whiplash trauma. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2011 Dec 1;36(25 Suppl):S211-7.
- Tranter RM, Graham JR. A review of the otological aspects of whiplash injury. J Forensic Leg Med. 2009 Feb;16(2):53-5.
- Treleaven J. Sensorimotor disturbances in neck disorders affecting postural stability, head and eye movement control–Part 2: case studies. Man Ther. 2008 Jun;13(3):266-75.
- Treleaven J, LowChoy N, Darnell R, Panizza B, Brown-Rothwell D, Jull G. Comparison of sensorimotor disturbance between subjects with persistent whiplash-associated disorder and subjects with vestibular pathology associated with acoustic neuroma. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2008 Mar;89(3):522-30.
- Treleaven J. Sensorimotor disturbances in neck disorders affecting postural stability, head and eye movement control. Man Ther. 2008 Feb;13(1):2-11.
- Storaci R, Manelli A, Schiavone N, Mangia L, Prigione G, Sangiorgi S. Whiplash injury and oculomotor dysfunctions: clinical-posturographic
correlations. Eur Spine J. 2006 Dec;15(12):1811-6. - Tuo KS, Cheng YY, Kao CL. Vestibular rehabilitation in a patient with whiplash-associated disorders. J Chin Med Assoc. 2006 Dec;69(12):591-5.
- Ekvall Hansson E, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Dizziness among patients with whiplash-associated disorder: a randomized controlled trial. J Rehabil Med. 2006 Nov;38(6):387-90.
- Mallinson AI, Longridge NS. Dizziness from whiplash and head injury: differences between whiplash and head injury. Am J Otol. 1998 Nov;19(6):814-8.
- Hoffer ME et al. Characterizing and treating dizziness after mild head trauma. Otol Neurotol. 2004. 25:135-138.
- Nacci, A et alVestibular and stabilometric findings in whiplash injury and minor head trauma. Acta Otorhinolaryngologica Italica, 2011. 31(6), 378–389.
- Rieke, C. Symptoms of imbalance associated with cervical spine pathology. Independent Studies and Capstones. Paper 293. 2008. Program in Audiology and Communication Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine.
- D.C. Alpini et al. (eds.), Whiplash Injuries. Springer-Verlag Italia. 2014.
- Anderson, R et al. Whiplash associated disorders: a comprehensive review. CASR Report Series, CASR0 16 April 2006. The University of Adelaide.
- Hain, T. Migraine Associated Vertigo (MAV). American Hearing Research Foundation. . Accessed 25/8/15.
Solution for Whiplash
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Assess
- Physical examination
- Neurological testing
- Metabolic and nutritional
- History questionnaires
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Explain
- Report of findings
- Clear answers
- Options for treatment
- Solution recommended
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Treat
- Physical therapy and exercises
- Neurological and brain-based therapy
- Vestibular (balance) rehabilitation
- Metabolic and dietary
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